Glendon School student Taylor Martin is excited to return to the Minister’s Youth Council this year to advocate for students and influence education policy.
“It’s great to hear all of the different perspectives from across the province,” said Martin. “Having students from across the province coming together was eye-opening.”
Martin was one of just seven students selected to return to the 40-member council, which provides an opportunity for students to learn about education issues and provide input to Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides.
One of the highlights for Martin was seeing the input provided by students reflected in policy announced by the government. At the April meeting of the council, several groups of students presented input on school cellphone policies. They recommended a standardized approach across all schools to ensure consistency in both implementation and enforcement. Many of their suggestions were included in the new restrictions on personal mobile devices and social media announced in June.
Other hot topics of discussion last year were mental health, teacher recruitment and retention, course variety, and attendance. Martin has been particularly vocal about ensuring rural students have access to the same opportunities as their urban counterparts, especially when it comes to dual credit courses that allow high school students to explore potential careers.
“I could see how opportunities like dual credit courses set you up to explore careers and see if they are a good fit or not,” she explained. “After hearing all of the discussion and talking to several students who had done them, there is value in taking them even if you discover it’s something you don’t want to do.”
According to Martin, dual credit courses not only help students transition to post-secondary education but also boost student engagement. This focus on engagement, she believes, directly impacts attendance and mental health—two areas she is eager to delve into further in her second year on the council.
“We need to foster a sense of engagement in the classroom,” Martin said, explaining this not only includes a wider variety of courses, but also more interactive learning, and providing different options for taking courses and completing classwork.
Martin is also passionate about improving student mental health. Last year, students suggested that the government develop a standardized approach to tackling bullying in schools. They believe this could create more welcoming school environments and contribute to better mental health for students across the province.
Additionally, the council recommended more opportunities for students to connect outside the classroom to help build a stronger sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation.
Martin is also looking forward to sharing what she has learned with other students in Northern Lights as part of the division’s Student Advisory Council to the Board.
“I definitely have more to share when questions are asked and more suggestions for programming based on what I have learned other school divisions are doing,” she said.
She also wants to encourage other students to use their voices and take advantage of the opportunities to advocate for themselves and others.
“Share your voice, meet with others with different perspectives, and take advantage of the opportunities to have your voice heard.”